Knockdown table furniture



March 27, 1951 G. w. ANDERSQN 2,546,812

KNocKDowN TABLE FURNITURE Filed April 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. f @ag /'udf/mwf/ March 279 @Si G. w. ANDERSON 2,543,82

KNOCKDOWN TABLE FURNITURE Filed April 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 46 47 T43 29a VS-/z/ 34 /12 37 lg ,j 10

INVENTOR. ealfge l. nfe/'Jan BY l Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED s-mres PATENT ove-rice George W. Anderson, Portv Washington, N.y Y.

Application April 5, 1949, Serial No. 85,583

6 Claims. l s

This invention relates to knock-down furniture.

Among` the objects of the invention is to provide asturdy piece of furniture, such as` a table, light in weight and having a minimum number of parts which can be easily assembled together or taken apart for storage purposes.

The invention is particularly suitabley for fabrication from resilient sheet material such as thin plywood. The structure includes four separable pieces consisting of. av body ystructure, two similar end panels and a stretcher. The body structure is formed from a at piece of sheet material which is bowed' to provide a lower curving wall and two upstanding side walls. The leg structure for the table is provided by two end panels which are parallel to eachfother and have projections which slidably t into openings in the body structure and hold the panels normal to the surface of the body structure. The end panels have curved edges above and between the legs of the end panels which are shaped to conform with the bowed configuration of the body structure. A stretcher extends between the upstandingside walls and holds the sidewalls from their natural tendency to Hex away from each other. The side walls are constrained by cleats carried by the stretcher. The cleats have wings which are engageable in slotted openings in the side walls when the stretcher is mounted in place and the side walls are locked with reference to the stretcher by rotating the stretcher and causing engagement of the wings of thevcleats with the exterior or outside surfaces of the'side walls. A table top is provided with means for engaging the upper portions of the side walls of the body structure. l

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forthIfor the purposes of illustration.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 'l is a development of the body struct-ure;

Fig. 2 illustrates the stretcher;

Fig. 3 illustrates one of two similar end panels;

Fig. lis a View of the table top as seen from its underside;

Fig. 5 il1ustrates one manner of engaging an end panelA with the sheet constituting the body 'structure" l Fig'ls a plan of the assembled table with portions broken away;

, Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6; and I (CL-311---35--ly 2 Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8. of Fig. 61.

The piece of furniture illustrated in the drawing includes a body structure Ie, stretcheril, and two end panels I 2 andY I3, each of which may be stamped or die-cut from sheet material. The various sheets are providedr with fastening means in the form of studs' and cleats which are engageable in openings and no elements detachable from the sheets are required. The various openings are all located inthe sheet of material for forming the body structure Ill, Fig. l, and these openings4 may be cut or punched outwhen the sheet is formed. The construction is particularly suitable for manufacture from plywood or other' sheet materials having similar characteristics.

Each of the end panels I 2 and I3 has a lower curved edge I4 between extensions I5 and I6 and curved edges IT and I8' beyond the extensions I5 and I B respectively. The' edges I4, I l and I8 have such conguration as to conform with the interior surface of the body structure I0 when the sheet constituting the body structure is bowed and bent to a natural curvevnishing in substantially parallel planes as illustrated in Fig. 7. Ihe edges I4, Il and I8 preferably contact with the interior surface of the body structure I0 so as to provide firm intersecting areas between the respective end panels I2 and I3 and the troughlike area of the body structure.

Each panel is provided with three studs I9, 20 and 2| which are adapted to engage openings 22, 23 and 24, respectively, in the body structure when the panel is mounted in position. These studs may be formed from pegs having slots engageable with the edge and oppositesurfaces of the panels. The studs are fastened to the panels by gluing or nailing.

The extensions I5 and I6 of each oi' the end panels provide the legs for the articlel of furnitureI illustrated in the drawing. In assembling the end panels the extensions I5 and I6 are inserted in openings 25 and .26 respectively of the sheet material forming the body portion I0. These openings are in the form of slots havin?,r such width as to accommodate the thickness oi' the material of the panels and no greater length than necessary to accommodate the extensions I5 and IE. The inner er1-ds 21 and 28 of the notches are equally spaced 4from the axis of the hole 22 which is on the center line of the body structure I0, and this spacing is equal to the length of the curved edge I6 of the end panel.

Each end panel is mounted in place rst by introducing one of the extensions I6 in the openeach of which includes rounded stems fastened'Y 'l The cleats 29 and 29a are The upper edge 48 of each of the panels may be shaped in any manner desired. If this upper edge 48 is curved downwardly space is provided for permitting access to the trough-like interior of the body structure.

The construction described is well suited for fabrication almost entirely of plywood. Owing to the curved form of the sheet of plywood which constitutesthe body structure andthe close interlocking relationship therewith vof* the end panels and stretcher, a Very strong construction may result even though all of the separable parts are. made of plywood of a gauge as small as oneeighth of an inch. Consequently, a table or vother article of'f-urniture is obtainable which is very strong with respect to its lightness of weight.

adapted to pass through openings 32 and 33, re'- spectively, in the side walls of the body structure. These openings have slots 34 and 35 for accommodating the wings 30 and 3| when the cleat is being inserted in the opening. The stretcher is disposed with its broad surface in a horizontal position (Fig. 6) when the cleats are being engaged in the openings 32 and 33, and the stretcher is then rotated on the axis of the cleats to a vert-ical position as illustrated in Fig. '7 to lock the stretcher in place. The introduction of the cleats into their respective openings is ac-V complished when the studs and 2| of the end panels enter their respective openings 23 and 2li. When the stretcher has been turned to a vertical position the inner surfaces of the side portions are brought into firm contact with the curving edges I4, I1 and i8 of the end panels and the end panels are locked in place. v

The stretcher forms a beam whose upper edge 36 may be in the plane of the upper edges of the side wall portions of the body structure. The lower edge 3l of the stretcher is in a plane below the upper terminals of the curved edges |'I and I8 of the end panels so as to provide a vertical overlapping relationship of the lateral-bracing edge portions of the end panels and stretcher. In order to accomplish this the lower portions 38 and 39 of the end edges 4U andtll of the stretcher are shaped to conform with the interior curving surface of the body structure.

As thus far described the structure has utility as a trough for receiving articles such as papers, magazines, etc., but in its preferred form it is intended that the structure be completed in the form of a table. For that purpose a table top 132 is provided with two rails 43 and 44 which are.

attached to the under side of the tabletop in parallel relationship and spaced from each other sufficiently to engage the upper side walls of the body structure Il] as illustrated in Fig. '7. In view of the fact that the upper edges of the side walls are tractable, the table top will 4remain in place, but it is preferred to provide fastening means for securing the table top to the` body structure. The fastening means may constitute a plurality of rotatable wings 45 each of which .is fastened to a rail by a post it. rl'he upper portions of the body structure are provided with a like number of elliptical eyelets 4l for receiving the wings and posts of the fastening elements. These fastening elements are all of a-common construction having rotatable wings for engaging eyeletswhen This inventionis capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features I'herein disclosed. It is therefore intended, and desired that the, specific description herein be deemed' illustrative1 andvnot restrictive and that the patentshall coverfall patentable novelty herein, set forth;v reference being had to the following claims ,rather than to the particular showing herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: l,

, l. A knock-down piece of furniture comprising4 a sheet of resilient material bowed to form a body structure with a curved bottom portion and upstanding side portions, a stretcherextending between said upstanding side portions, means connecting each of said side portions to said stretcher, a panel adjacent each end of said body structure, each panel having edges conf forming to curved interior surfaces of said-body structure and a pair of extensions spaced from each other and passing through slots in said body structure to the exterior thereof, means for holding said panels with respect to said body structure, said holding means `*including studs carried by said panels and passing through holes in said body structure, and a table top supported by said structure.

2. A knock-down piece of furniture comprising a sheet of resilient material bowed to form a body structure with a curved bottom portion and opstanding side portions, a stretcher extending between said opstanding side portions andy hav.- ing its ends contacting with the interior surfaces of said upstanding side portions, means. connecting each of said side portions to said stretcher, said connecting means including cleats attached to said stretcher and extending through holes in said ,side portions and engaging the exterior surfaces of said side portions, a panel adjacent each endY of said body structure, each panel having edges conforming to curved interior surfaces of said body structure and a peil' of extensions spaced from each other and passing through slots in said body structure to the exterior thereof, means for holding said panels with respect to said body structure, and a tabletop supported by said body structure.

3. A knock-down piece of furniture comprising a sheet of resilient material bowed" to form a body structure with a Icurved bottom portion, opstanding side portions, av stretcher of. sheet material Ldisposed at substantiallyright 'angles to'and extending betweenfsad upstanding side portions and having end edges contactingfwith interiorsurfaces. of said side. portions, 'means connecting 'each of said side' portions "to" said stretcher, panels of sheet material lying in planes parallel to the plane of said stretcher, said panels being located one adjacent each end of said body structure, each panel having edges conforming to and contacting with curved interior surfaces of said body structure and a pair of extensions spaced from each other and passing through slots in said body structure to the exterior thereof, said edges of said panels which contact with the interior surfaces of said body structure extending to a point above the lower terminals of said end edges of said stretcher which contact with the interior surface of said body structure, means for holding said panels with respect to said body structure, and a table top supported by said body structure.

4. A knock-down piece of furniture comprising a sheet of resilient material bowed to form a trough with side portions extending upwardly from a central curved bottom portion, a stretcher extending between said upstanding side portions, means connecting each of said side portions to said stretcher, a pair oi panels spaced from each other and providing walls at the ends of said trough extending to a height suiiciently below the upper edges of said side portions to enable access to the interior of said trough from over the upper edges of said panels, each of said panels having edges conforming to and contacting with curved interior surfaces of said trough and a pair of extensions spaced from each other and passing through slots in said trough to the exterior thereof, means for holding said panels with respect to said trough, and a table top supported by the upstanding side portions of said trough.

5. A knock-down piece of furniture comprising a sheet of resilient material bowed to form a body structure with a curved bottom portion and upstanding side portions, a stretcher extending between said upstanding side portions, means connecting each of said side portions to said stretcher, a panel adjacent each end of said body structure, each panel having edges conforming to curved interior surfaces o said body structure and a pair of extensions spaced from each other and passing through slots in said body structure to the exterior thereof, means for holding said panels with respect to said body structure, a table top supported by said side portions, and a pair of rails attached to the under side of said table top and spaced apart for accommodating between them said side portions.

6. A knock-down piece of furniture compris ing a trough-like body structureN and two end panels spaced apart and disposed substantially perpendicularly to said body structure and providing legs for said body structure, said panels having edges abutting the inside surface of said body structure, said abutting edges of each of said panels including a curved lower edge intermediate va pair of said legs and end edges extending upwardly from. the outer edges of said legs, said body structure comprising "a' normally rlat sheet of resilient material bowed to provide a curvilinear central portion and upstanding side portions for engaging said curved lower edges and said end edges of said panels, respectively, and having holes therein forfaccommodating said legs, means including studs Vattached to said panels and slidably fitting within holes in said body structure for maintaining said panels erect and substantially perpendicular with respect to said body structure, and means engaging said upstanding side portions of said sheet of resilient material for holding said upstanding side porm tions thereof in abutting relation to said edges of said panels against the natural tendency of the bowed material to flex away therefrom.

GEORGE W ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 229,533 Hoil'meier July 6, 1880 1,676,747 Rings July 10, 1928 1,727,610 Kramer Sept. 10, 1929 1,910,089 Chomik May 23, i933 2,000,915 Blake May 14, 1935 2,255,654 Davis et al. Sept. 9, 1941 2,347,821 Gcldner May 2, 1944 2,439,322 Thaden Apr. 6, 1948 2,448,707 Erickson et al. Sept. 7, 1948 

